So, why the interest in beach volleyball, Minister? Government claims it is a coincidence MPs 'bought DOUBLE the number of tickets for 'skimpy outfit sport'

Arguably, it is an Olympic sport that would be equally at home on a Baywatch film set as it will be at the Games.

Yet the Government has insisted it is pure ‘coincidence’ that ministers have bought double the number of tickets for beach volleyball – famous for its skimpy outfits – as they have for athletics.

Former Labour sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe asked if it was just an ‘oddity’ that ministers bought 410 tickets, worth £26,000, compared with 246 for athletics.

Cracking view: Ministers bought double the allocation for the volleyball, favouring the sport over track events

Jonathan Stephens, permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said there was an innocent explanation. He told MPs most staff wanted weekend tickets and seats under £90 and the event which met those requirements ‘turns out to be volleyball’.

He said top sponsors could buy 13,500 tickets, but the Government did not take up the full allocation and bought 8,800, for just under £750,000. About 3,300 will be used for dignitaries, 2,000 given to local authorities while 2,300 will be sold to staff involved with the Games.

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Despite being a little-played sport in Britain, beach volleyball was one of the fastest events to sell out – a phenomenon partly attributed to the athletes’ attire. Women players must wear a top ‘closely fitted to the body’ and briefs with ‘a side width no greater than 3in’. Men can wear vests and shorts.

Laughter broke out at the Media, Culture and Sport Committee when Mr Sutcliffe asked: ‘Can you explain why there seems to be a strong interest in beach volleyball among ministers and civil servants?’

On show: The London 2012 test event attracted a strong following ahead of the games

Revealing: MPs were allegedly only interested in weekend sports with tickets less than £90

Mr Stephens explained: ‘When purchasing tickets for staff to purchase, we thought they were mostly going to be able to go at the weekend or on Fridays.’ Convenience may also be a factor – the event will be held in Horse Guards Parade, just over the road from Whitehall. Meanwhile a row broke out after organisers Locog said every child – including newborns carried in their parents’ arms – must have their own ticket to events.

Only a small number of £1 infants’ tickets will go sale in the next round in April, meaning most parents face having to buy a full-price ticket for their baby – and organisers cannot guarantee the extra seat will be next to the others.

Parents writing on online parenting forums branded it an ‘anti-baby policy’. Locog said it would review the matter and ‘do its utmost’ to make sure the seats were together.